‘The 5th Question’ — my grandson’s poem
The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, taught that in remembrance lies the secret of redemption. But for remembrance to be meaningful, it must also be rooted in compassion and empathy.
In this spirit, I am proud to share “The 5th Question,” a poem written by my 15-year-old grandson:
The 5th Question
four children
ask questions
at the seder
“why is this night
different
from all other nights?”
this year
why is this year
different
from all other years?
the israeli child
killed on october 7th
the kidnapped
israeli hostage child
murdered by hamas
in gaza
say:
we asked questions
at the seder
last year
we cannot ask
anything
anymore
why?
the parentless
palestinian child
in gaza
says:
I am hungry
I am cold
I no longer have a home
I would like to be
somewhere safe
so I can ask
why?
the israeli child
the palestinian child
want answers
to the same question:
why?